Latest Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Statistics

Brandon Daniell
Jan 12
6 min read

Key Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Statistics

Today's ASC marketplace represents a robust $45.6 billion industry in the United States.
As of Q2 2025, there are 12,294 total ASCs operating nationwide, including 6,504 Medicare-certified facilities.
Outpatient settings have become the dominant venue for surgical care, now hosting more than 80% of all U.S. surgeries.
Procedure volumes at ASCs are forecast to climb 21% during the 2025–2035 window.
By 2029, the ASC market is expected to reach $55.3 billion.
Each year, ASCs collectively reduce Medicare expenditures by $2.3 billion.
Patients who choose an ASC over a hospital outpatient department pocket an average of $684 in savings per procedure.
America's aging population now includes more than 49 million individuals - representing 15% of citizens - who have reached age 65 or beyond.

Industry Size, History & Growth

Phoenix, Arizona became home to America's first freestanding ASC back in 1970, marking the birth of an industry that would transform outpatient care.

Hospital-owned facilities dominated the surgical landscape in 1981, handling a remarkable 93% of all procedures performed across the United States.

A pivotal moment came in 1995 when Medicare began reimbursing ASCs for 2,000 different procedures.

By 2005, the tide had shifted dramatically - hospital-owned facilities accounted for just 45% of outpatient surgeries nationwide.

The ASC sector has demonstrated consistent expansion in both facility count and economic impact:

2020: 5,927 Medicare-certified facilities generating $37.2 billion in market value
2021: 6,028 Medicare-certified facilities generating $40.8 billion in market value
2022: 6,087 Medicare-certified facilities generating $43.1 billion in market value
2023: 6,298 Medicare-certified facilities generating $43.1 billion in market value
2024: 6,394 Medicare-certified facilities generating $45.6 billion in market value

Today's ASC marketplace represents a robust $45.6 billion industry in the United States.

As of Q2 2025, the ASC landscape breaks down as follows:

12,294 total ASCs operating nationwide
6,504 facilities holding Medicare certification
5,790 facilities operating without Medicare certification

Across the country, ASCs maintain more than 18,000 operating rooms ready to serve patients.

The industry continues expanding at a steady 1.6% annual growth rate.

Throughout 2024, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid welcomed 168 newly certified ASCs into the program.

Looking back to 2011, Medicare-certified ASC numbers have climbed by 20%.

Over the last decade alone, Medicare-certified facilities have surged by 25%.

Outpatient settings have become the dominant venue for surgical care, now hosting more than 80% of all U.S. surgeries.

The vast majority of ASCs - 95% - operate as for-profit enterprises.

Urban locations house 94% of all ASCs across the nation.

America's aging population now includes more than 49 million individuals - representing 15% of citizens - who have reached age 65 or beyond.

Demographics will continue shifting, with the 65-and-older population expected to comprise 24% of all Americans by 2060.

Procedure volumes at ASCs are forecast to climb 21% during the 2025–2035 window.

Market analysts anticipate 21% growth in ASC market value between 2024 and 2029.

By 2029, the ASC market is expected to reach $55.3 billion.

Geographic Distribution

When it comes to ASC density, Maryland leads the nation with 36 facilities per 100,000 Medicare Part B beneficiaries.

At the opposite end, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Vermont trail behind with 4 or fewer ASCs per 100,000 Medicare Part B beneficiaries.

These states boast the highest concentrations of Medicare-certified ASCs:

California: 896 facilities
Florida: 517 facilities
Texas: 497 facilities
Georgia: 423 facilities
Maryland: 347 facilities

78Meanwhile, these regions have the most limited ASC presence:

Vermont: 2 facilities
District of Columbia: 2 facilities
Guam: 2 facilities
Virgin Islands: 4 facilities
West Virginia: 7 facilities

Facility Characteristics & Ownership

Operating room capacity varies by facility type:

Typical ASC: 2.89 ORs
Single-specialty centers: 2.24 ORs
Multi-specialty centers: 3.55 ORs

By 2029, OR counts are expected to rise:

Average ASC: 3.01 ORs
Single-specialty centers: 2.43 ORs
Multi-specialty centers: 3.61 ORs

Facility size distribution based on operating room count:

Small centers (1-2 ORs): 54%
Medium centers (3-4 ORs): 31%
Large centers (5-6 ORs): 10%
Mega centers (7+ ORs): 5%

The split between facility types as of Q2 2025 reveals a near-even divide:

Single-specialty ASCs: 51.2% (3,328 facilities)
Multi-specialty ASCs: 48.8% (3,176 facilities)

Ownership models across the ASC landscape:

Physicians as sole owners: 52%
Physician-hospital joint ventures: 22%
Physician-corporation partnerships: 13%
Physician-hospital-corporation combinations: 3%
Corporations alone: 3%
Hospitals alone: 2%
Alternative arrangements: 5%

A significant 63% of health system executives view outpatient surgery as a promising opportunity for joint venture partnerships.

Specialties & Procedures

On average, each ASC offers 2.84 different medical specialties.

Specialty offerings across all ASCs break down as follows:

Other services (general surgery, cardiology, trauma, neurosurgery, vascular, urology, pediatrics): 37.3% (2,423 facilities)
Orthopedic services: 36.4% (2,369 facilities)
Pain management: 36.1% (2,349 facilities)
Ophthalmology: 33.3% (2,163 facilities)
Endoscopy: 31.9% (2,078 facilities)
Plastic surgery: 27.3% (1,775 facilities)
Podiatric care: 26.9% (1,750 facilities)
ENT services: 22.4% (1,457 facilities)
OBGYN: 17.7% (1,154 facilities)
Dental procedures: 7.6% (494 facilities)